I''ve just update the News report on 6463 - Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.J Initial Production (Smart Kit) from DML. Now added, are the details included in the model. The updated report can be seen:

Link to Item

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

Looks like a great kit. I always wanted to model a Pz. III with the markings on the box art since I saw pictures ofg the real thing in Squadron's Panzer Colors books.

Do you know anything more about the other marking options in the kit?

Thanks for the update.

Nice to see this one come out...I too am curious about the potential markings options but guess these will be limited to the Eastern Front units since it doesn't have any "tropen" modifications for N. Africa.

Hopefully this signals future Pz III kits are in the pipe...the III-N for N. Africa had all kinds of parts in it for the spaced armor on an L so I'm guessing that too isn't too far off...maybe even an M since they did the M hull and exhaust already for the CH white-box StuG III on an M hull.

Sigh....so much for my New Years Resolution....but when the Pz. III is your favorite AFV, what's a man to do??


Cheers,
Mike

Can you list those? Are they difficult to scratch-build?


What ones in particular are you hoping for? Presumably the E-F for Poland and France? The G for France? The L & M are already handled by Tamiya, correct? So presumably DML wouldn't rush into their space, or do you disagree?

Bill,

The major "tropen" external modification involved opening up holes with armored vent covers in all the engine deck access panels to increase the airflow/cooling. This originated as a "tropen" requirement but soon became a standard feature on all Pz IIIs regardless of destination. This "initial" J doesn't have the vents in the deck. I suppose you could scratch-build them but it would be a difficult task to undertake due to the complex shapes involved. My guess is that DML will get around to doing a Early/Mid (although you can't really call them that officially) type that has the armored vents and cutouts already in the deck.

As for future Pz III kits...the J represents a definite break in the III series with the E-F-G-H representing the earlier war designs and the J-K-L-M-N representing the later and majority of types produced. If I had to bet money, I'd say that DML already has plans for an M in the works...they already have all the pieces (long 5.0cm gun, hull, exhaust, spaced armor) as evidenced in their N and J kits and StuG III ausf M chassis CH white-box release. They may, or may not, choose to do an L but they have that essentially ready to go too from the III N kit since they based that one on an L chassis. I just think they are spreading these out so as not to saturate. I don't think they care one way or the other about Tamiya having an L available (don't think they have an M unless their N kit can also be done as an M?).

Sadly I think the earlier war Pz IIIs are less likely to get produced as those would require essentially all new tooling from the ground up for the different versions. They may choose instead to go the "Orange Box" route from the Imperial Series for those...hard to say for sure.